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PCT 


WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION 
International Bureau 



INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) 


(51) International Patent Classification 4 
H04N5/76 


Al 


(11) International Publication Number: 
(43) International Publication Date: 


WO 90/07843 

12 July 1990(12.07.90) 


(21) International Application Number: PCT/US89/05829 

(22) International Filing Date: 27 December 1989 (27.12.89) 


(30) Priority data: 

289,776 
347,629 


27 December 1988 (27.12.88) US 
5 May 1989 (05.05.89) US 


(71X72) Applicant and Inventor: LANG, Richard A. JUS/US]; 
29209 N. 56th Street, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 (US). 

(74) Agents: KLIVANS, Norman, R. et al; Skjerven, Morrill, 
MacPherson, Franklin & Friel, 25 Metro Drive, Suite 
700, San Jose, CA 95110 (US). 


(81) Designated States: AT (European patent), AU, BE (Euro- 
pean patent), CH (European patent), DE (European pa- 
tent), ES (European patent), FR (European patent), GB 
(European patent), IT (European patent), JP, KR, LU 
(European patent), NL (European patent), SE (Euro- 
pean patent). 


Published 

With international search report. 

Before the expiration of the time limit for amending the^ 
claims and to be republished in the event of the receipt oj 
" amendments. 


(54) Title: AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDER/TRANSCEIVER 


VIDEO UNE 


on 


CAMERA INPUT 



TV RF 


TUN6R 




VIDEO OUT 


RGB OUT 



(57) Abstract 

vemional phone lines or microwaves or electromagnetic waves in radio or TV band. 


4 


FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY 


Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international 
applications under the PCT. 


AT Austria. 

AU Australia 

BB Barbados 

BE Belgium 

Bf Burkina Fun 

BG Bulgaria 

BJ Benin 

BR Bruil 

CA Canada 

CF Omni A&fcan Republic 

CG Congo 

CH Switzerland 

CM Cameroon 

D£ Germany. Federal Republic of 

DK Denmark • 


ES Spain 

FT Finland 

FR France 

GA Gabon 

GB United Kingdom 

HU Hungary 

rr Italy 

JP Japan 

KP Democratic People's Republic 

of Korea 

KR Repubfic of Korea 

U lirrhtrnwm 

LK Sri Lanka 

LLI Luxembourg 

MC Monaco 


MG Madagascar 

ML Mali 

MR Mauri ta n ia 

MW Malawi 

NL Netherlands 

NO Norway 

RO Romania 

SO Sudan 

SE Sweden 

9* Senegal 

SU Soviet Union 

TO Chad 

TG Top 

15 United States of America 


WO 90/07843 PCT/US»»/«9KV 


- 1 - 


AODIO/VIDEO RECORDER/TRANSCEIVER 


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 

The video cassette recorder (VCR) has added 
5 significantly to the usefulness of the home television 
set. Important or exceptionally good programs may be 
recorded to be viewed again. Programs appearing at times 
that are inconvenient for viewing may be recorded for 
playback at a later time. Recorded movies or other 

10 materials, educational or entertaining, may be rented or 
borrowed for viewing at home. (As used in the remainder 
of this specification, the term "program" encompasses 
movies and other types of video and/or audio materials, 
whether broadcast from a TV station or another source.) 

15 The typical VCR has its own tuner-receiver and a 

video-recorder. It can receive and record a program from 
one channel while the television set is being employed to 
view a program on another channel. Programs are recorded 
on magnetic tape. The tape is then played back and viewed 

20 on the television set. Features commonly included in the 
VCR are capabilities for advancing the tape forward or 
backward at a high speed, stopping motion at any frame to 
hold the image, or simply playing back the recording at 
normal speed. 

25 Desirable features that are not normally available in 

a VCR are capabilities for copying recorded programs from 
one tape or alternative storage medium to a similar or 
dissimilar storage medium, editing recorded programs and 
high speed recording. Another desirable, but currently 
unavailable, feature is the capability for high speed, 
high quality transmission and reception by optical fiber, 
microwave or other communications means using the VCR. 


30 


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PCT/US89/05829 


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 

A video recording device constructed in accordance 
with my invention is adapted to receive a video program at 
an accelerated rate and store that video program in a 
5 first memory for subsequent viewing. In one embodiment, 
the video program is received via a fiber optic port, a 
microwave transceiver, an RP receiver, or other input 
means. The video signal is typically a digital compressed 
video signal which may be provided by another video 
10 recording device in accordance with the invention or a 
centrally located video library. 

(In another embodiment, instead of receiving a video 
signal, the recording device receives an audio signal at 
an accelerated rate. The audio signal may be stored so it 
15 can be edited or listened to thereafter.) 

The video recording device typically includes an 
editor for editing the digital compressed video signal 
stored in memory. 

The video recording device also includes compression/ 
20 decompression circuitry for decompressing a compressed 
digital video signal and converting the decompressed 
digital video signal to an analog video signal for 
subsequent viewing. In one embodiment, the video 
recording device also includes a second memory (which can 
25 be, for example, a magnetic tape cassette, optical disc, 
or other recording media) for receiving the decompressed 
analog video signal for subsequent viewing. 

In one embodiment, the video recording device 
includes input means for receiving a video signal at 
30 conventional speeds, such as an RP tuner used to receive 
conventional analog video signals, a camera input line for 
receiving an input signal from a TV camera, or other type 
of input means. The signal received by this input means 
can be stored in the second memory/ and/or digitized, 


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10 


15 


- 3 - 


compressed and stored in the first memory, and/or viewed 
on a television monitor. 

In another embodiment, the video recording device can 
receive digital video signals at conventional speeds as 
well. 

These and other advantages of my invention are better 
understood with reference to the drawings and detailed 
description below. 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS - 

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the housing of the 
audio/video recorder editor/transceiver ("VCR-ET") 
disclosed and embodying the invention. 

*Fig. 1A is an enlarged/view of the circled area of 
Fig. 1. 

Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of the VCR-ET of 


20 


Fig. 1. 

Fig. 2A is a functional block diagram of the VCR-ET 
of Fig. 1 including circuitry for demodulating a video 
signal encoded using the Vokac technique. 

Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of a VCR-ET in 
accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 

Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram of an audio 
recorder/transceiver constructed in accordance with the 
invention. 

Fig. 5 illustrates a plurality of VCR-ET 1 s adapted to 
receive video signals from a remotely located video 
library via a common communication channel. 

Pig. 6 illustrates a carrier signal modulated using 
the Vokac modulation technique, described in greater 
30 detail below. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM BODIMENT 

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, 
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an improved audio/video recorder 


25 


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PCT/\JS89/05829 


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editor /transceiver 10 (VCR-ET) comprising an audio/video 
recording unit (AVRU) 11, a video control unit (VCU) 12, 
memory 13, digital control unit (DCU) 14, video line or 
camera input line 15, TV RP tuner 16, auxiliary digital 
5 input port 17, fiber optic input/output port 18, RF 

modulator 19 f RGB converter with synchronizer 21, and an 
audio/video transmitter/receiver 22 with keypad 45, all in 
a common housing. 

The audio/video recording unit AVRU 11 may be a video 
10 cassette recorder similar to a conventional VCR in which 
the storage media 23 is a magnetic tape. Alternatively 
AVRU 11 may operate with other types of storage media 
including, but not limited to, optical discs, CD-ROMs or 
other magnetic tape formats. AVRU 11 has all the 
15 functions of the typical VCR including record, play, 

rewind, slow motion, fast-forward and single frame hold. 

An alternate form of storage media for use in AVRU 11 
is the CD-ROM, which is a disk using a derivative of glass 
or plastic in conjunction with an aluminum or other 
20 metallic coating. Audio and video signals are stored in 
the form of irregularities in the aluminum coated surface 
and are read using a low power laser. In this case, the 
user would not be able to store or write on the CD-ROM, 
but would be able to play discs that have been recorded 
25 and distributed commercially. The storage of video and 
audio signals on the CD-ROM is in digital form which is 
readily accommodated by the video recorder of this 
invention. 

Instead of using a CD-ROM, VCR-ET 10 can use optical 
30 discs as media 23. Such optical discs are similar to a 
CD-ROM and use a variable power laser to read from or 
write on the disc. 

A first type of optical disc is a WORM (Write Once 
Read Many) optical disc. This device has the unique 
35 capability of writing on the disc permanently. A laser is 


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- 5 - 


used to change the magnetic or optical properties of the 
media. A lower-powered laser is then used to read the 
data from the disc. Data, in this case, is permanently 
recorded; it may neither be erased nor written over. A 
5 further description of this technology can be found in the 
November 1988 issue of The Electronic Syste m Design 
magazine (ESD) pages 55-56, incorporated herein by 
reference. 

A second and preferred type of optical disc to be 

10 used in AVRU 11 is an erasable optical disc. This disc 
has full read/write/erase capabilities. With this disc, 
AVRU 11 has the same record/playback capabilities as a 
conventional VCR. As an example, erasable optical discs 
are used in Steven Jobs' "Next" machine as described in 

15 infoworld , Volume 10, issue 42, pages 51 and 93, 

October 17, 1988, incorporated herein by reference. In 
addition, the random access capabilities of the erasable 
disc (and of the CD-ROM and WORM) provide additional 
benefits as will be discussed in a later part of this 

20 specification. 

A key element of VCR-ET 10, which is partly 
responsible for its improved functionality, is the video 
control unit or VCU 12. The VCD comprises an analog to 
digital converter (ADC) 24, a digital to analog converter 

25 (DAC) 25, a compressor/decompressor 26, a controller 27, a 
central processing unit (CPU) 28 and a random access 
memory (RAM) 29. VCU 12, using these elements, 
accomplishes the digitization and compression of analog 
signals as well as the reverse process in which the 
30 compressed digital signals are decompressed and converted 
back to analog signals. 

As a first step in the processing of the composite 
video signals within VCU 12, the sync signals are decoded 
to isolate signals for each picture frame for processing. 
35 The video signals defining each frame may then be 


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converted to a red analog signal , a green analog signal, 
and a blue analog signal in a conventional manner. The 
red, green and blue analog signals are then converted to 
digital form by the analog to digital converter (ADC) 
5 24 . The frame is divided into a set of closely positioned 
rows and columns of picture elements or "pixels." Each 
pixel has a color defined by a set of three digital values 
defining strength of the primary color components, red, 
green and blue (RGB) respectively. In one embodiment, 
10 each frame is divided into an array of 300 by 300 pixels, 
with the color and luminance of each pixel being defined 
by a seven bit word for the red component, a seven bit 
word for the blue component, and a seven bit word for the 
green component. These words are generated by ADC 24. 
15 The RGB video signal may also be processed by means of 
hue-saturation-intensity (HSI) color processing , where 
appropriate, as described in "Chips for Real-Time 
Comparisons," Electronic Engineering Times , issue 525, 
February 13, 1989, page 122. 
20 If each frame includes 90,000 pixels (300 x 300), and 

each pixel is defined by 21 bits (7 bits per primary 
color), the digital representation of a single video frame 
utilizes a sizable block of digital information (i.e., 
1.89 megabits/frame) which must be processed very 
25 rapidly. (Approximately 30 frames/second are received 
from AVRD-11.) Fortunately the analog to digital 
conversion of these signals may be accomplished at the 
desired speed using commercially available analog to 
digital converter integrated circuits. The analog to 
30 digital converter 24 (ADC) is a high-speed, high-accuracy, 
A to D "flash" converter available as a single IC 
(integrated circuit). Several different types of such A/D 
converters are available from Burr-Brown, one of which is 
the ADC 600. Part number TIC024, manufactured by 
35 Tektronix, Inc. is also appropriate. Other types of 


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- 7 - 


10 


devices appropriate for this function are described in an 
article by K. Rogers entitled "8-bit A/D Plash Hits 500 
Msamples", Electronic Engineering Times, Dec. 12, 1988, 
page 90, incorporated herein by reference. 

Compression of the digital data defining a video 
frame and the reverse process (decompression) are 
accomplished by compressor/decompressor 26. Various 
algorithms may be employed in the compression process 
which enable the representation of a series of numbers by 
a reduced number of digits. As an- example, compression 
algorithms like CCITT Group IV may be used. 

• In one optional embodiment, to further reduce the 
amount of memory required to store a program, the 
compression algorithm can simply record data corresponding 
15 to only those pixels which change color from one frame to 
the next. This results in considerable memory space 
savings, since not all pixels change color each frame. 
Basing calculation upon 10% of the pixels changing from 
one frame to the next, it is estimated that memory 
20 requirements using this technique are cut by about 90%. 
It is also estimated that on the average, the CCITT 
Group IV algorithm can cut memory requirements by another 
95%. Thus, if no data compression technique is used, it 
would take approximately 51.03 gigabytes to store a 2 hour 
25 video program, but by using the above compression 

techniques, it is estimated that memory 13 will require 
only 250 megabytes. 

Controller 27 handles timing and aids in the 
communication between the different elements of VCO 12, 
30 and between VCU 12, AVRO 11 and memory 13. 

In one embodiment, the audio portion of the program 
is periodically sampled and digitized by analog to digital 
conversion. In one embodiment, this is done at a sample 
rate of 88,000/second, one byte per sample, to yield 
35 ' compact disc quality sound. The sampling rate could be 


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dropped to reduce memory requirements. Also, the audio 
data can be compressed with conventional algorithms. 

The process of converting either from analog to 
digital or from digital to analog requires memory for 
5 intermediate storage. Random Access Memory (RAM) 29 

serves in this capacity. For this purpose either a DRAM 
(Dynamic RAM) or a SRAM (static RAM) may be employed. An 
example of a DRAM is the TI (Texas Instruments) TMX4C1024; 
an example of a SRAM is the INMOS IMS-12Q3. RAM 29 should 
10 have sufficient capacity to store- at least two full 
uncompressed frames (e.g., about 472 KB). 

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 28 is a micro- 
processor which controls the digitization process of VCU 
12. CPU 28 works with controller 27 to control and 
15 communicate with the other elements of the VCU. There are 
numerous commercially available microprocessors that are 
appropriate for this application. The Intel 80286, Intel 
80386 , Motorola 68020, and Motorola 68030 are examples. 
A more complete description of the microprocessors can be 
20 found in the October 27, 1988 issue of Electronic Design 
News (EDN), pages 231 and 242, incorporated herein by 
reference, or in the applicable data sheets. 

Controller 27, CPU 28 and RAM 29 serve in the same 
manner during the reverse processes, i.e., decompression 
25 and digital to analog conversion. Decompression is first 
accomplished in compressor /decompressor 26. The 
decompressed digital signal is then converted to an analog 
signal by digital to analog converter (DAC) 24 (assuming 
its destination requires an analog form) . In the course 
30 of converting the decompressed signals from the VCU 12 for 
use by the AVRU 11 the signals are synchronized by the 
time base generator (TBG) or corrector 48. TBG generator 
48 inserts synchronization pulses into the signal provided 
by VCU 12 to identify individual raster scan lines ajid 
35 frames so that the resulting signal can be used by a 


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conventional television set or VCR. TBG 48 can be 
bypassed by shunt switch 48' for the purpose of 
transmitting either compressed or decompressed signals 
from VCU 12 directly to the AVRU 11 in an uncorrected time 

5 based mode. 

DAC 25 provides the inverse of the function performed 
by A/D converter 24. DAC 25 is a high-speed, high 
accuracy digital to analog converter. An example of such 
a converter is the Burr-Brown DAC 60 digital to analog 

10 converter. 

Different types of memory technologies are adaptable 
for use in memory 13. As mentioned earlier, DRAM and SRAM 
semiconductor memories are commonly used for applications 
of this type and are readily available. 
15 one type of random access memory is CMOS 

(Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). The CMOS 
memory has the advantage of a relatively low power 
requirement and is readily adaptable for use with battery 
backup for semi-permanent data storage. Other types of 
20 memory include the above mentioned optical disc memories, 
bubble memories and magnetic discs. Another appropriate 
data storage media may be "Digital Paper" available from 
ICI Image data of Wilmington, Delaware. 

Emerging memory technologies may also prove advan- 
25 tageous with capabilities for mass data storage in even 
smaller physical dimensions. 

Digital Control Unit (DCD) 14 comprises a CPU 
(Central Processor Unit) 31, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32 
and a controller 32. DCU 14 is responsible for all of the 
30 digital editing processes. Through the use of DCU 14, 
video segments may be edited and rearranged. Thus, one 
may use DCU 14 to rearrange the scenes in a program, alter 
the program sound track, etc. 

In addition, a program may beedited, one frame at a 
35 time, by changing the contrast, brightness, sharpness, 


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- 10 - 


colors, etc, (Alteration of the contrast, brightness, 
sharpness and colors can be automated as well.) In one 
embodiment, images can be rotated, scaled (i.e., made 
larger or smaller), etc. In addition, pixel by pixel 
5 editing can be accomplished by DCU 14, e.g., in a manner 
similar to a PC paint program. Similar editing features 
can be incorporated for the audio portion of each 
program. In one embodiment, a" display such as a flat 
panel video display (not shown) is built into the 

10 VCR-ET. A user interface control* panel of DCU 14 allows a 
user to select a desired frame number from a menu on the 
display. The VCR-ET then displays a strip of frames 
(including several frames before and after the selected 
frame). The user can delete frames in a strip, select a 

15 point where other frames are to be inserted into the 
program, or edit different frames (i.e., alter contrast, 
brightness, sharpness, colors, etc.). In one embodiment, 
a user input device such as a light pen or mouse can be 
used to select individual frames in a strip for editing. 

20 Instead of incorporating a flat display into VCR-ET 

10, in another embodiment, a television coupled to output 
lead 42 of RE modulator 19 can be used during editing. 

CPU 31 is a microprocessor of the type described in 
connection with the CPO 28 of VCO 12. Controller 33 is an 

25 integrated circuit which handles the timing and 

interfacing between DCO 14 and memory 13. ROM 32 holds 
the necessary step-by-step editing programs which are 
installed at the factory. A currently available example 
of a suitable ROM for this application is the Texas 

30 Instruments part TMS47256. CPU 31 and controller 33 

together control the editing process as they execute the 
programs stored in ROM 32. 

The VCU 12, memory 13 and DCU 14 communicate with 
each other via a high speed data bus 34. The high speed 
35 data bus is required in order to meet bandwidth 


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requirements. Examples of suitable data bus devices are 
Motorola's VME bus, Intel's Multibus and the Optobuss 
(U.S. Patent 4,732,446). 

A video line or camera input line 15 is provided to 

5 enable VCR-ET 10 to receive an input signal from a source 
such as a television camera, a conventional VCR, a 
television tuner, or another VCR-ET, etc. The signals 
received at input line 15 are typically carried by a 
coaxial cable and are in the form of a standard television 
10 composite signal. As used throughout this specification, 
the words "standard television composite signal" or its 
acronym STCS shall be read to include any one of the 
following: NTSC, PAL, SECAM, HDTV, or any American or. 
European broadcast signal standards. (NTSC, PAL and SECAM 
15 are discussed in "Reference Data for Radio Engineers", 
published by Howard W. Sams & Co. in 1983, incorporated 
herein by reference.) An NTSC composite signal is defined 
as the analog signal that carries the chrominance (color), 
luminance (brightness), synchronization (timing) and audio 

20 signals that make up the video signals received and 
displayed by television and video cassette recorders. 
These four components are combined into one signal by 
modulating the components in different ways. (Amplitude 
modulation and phase modulation are examples.) The 

25 standard video line signal is such a composite signal and 
may be received at input line 15 from one of the above- 
mentioned sources. 

TV RP tuner input port 16 also supplies a composite 
signal as described in regard to video input line 15. The 

30 difference is that this signal is received from an antenna 
or cable TV coaxial cable. To receive such a signal, 
tuner 16 is capable of being set or tuned to receive the 
desired carrier frequency or television channel. 

Selector switch 35 is provided to select either video 

35 input line 15 or TV RP tuner 16 as an input signal source 


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to AVRD 11. 

Auxiliary digital input port 17 is employed to 
receive any acceptable digital signal such as a computer- 
generated video signal or as may be supplied by another 
5 VCR-ET. This signal/ for example , may be an RGB video 
signal such as that delivered to computer monitors, or it 
may be a digitized audio signal. (As mentioned above, an 
RGB signal is a signal which communicates the strength of 
the red, green and blue color components for the pixels 

10 that make up each video frame.) Switch 36 selects whether 
the digital video/audio input signal is chosen from 
auxiliary digital input port 17. Switch 36 supplies the 
selected signal to high speed data bus 34 which carries 
the signals in digital form. 

15 Fiber optic port 18 incorporates a fiber optic 

transceiver. Port 18 is capable of transforming fiber 
optic (light) signals to electrical signals or 
transforming electrical signals to fiber optic signals. 
Port 18 thus provides a capability for two-way 

20 communication between high speed data bus 34 and a fiber 
optic signal line. The incorporation of fiber optic port 
18 in the VCR-ET provides a capability for receiving 
audio/video signals from or delivering audio/video signals 
to the fiber optic line such as a fiber optic telephone 

25 line. The fiber optic line carries digital signals in the 
form of light waves over great distances with a high 
degree of accuracy and reliability and at a high speed 
(e.g., about 200 megabytes/second). The VCR-ET can 
receive/transmit a video program at an accelerated rate 

30 via fiber optic port 18 from/to a variety of sources. For 
example a video program may be communicated at an 
accelerated rate from the first VCR-ET to a second VCR-ET 
in less time than it would take to view the program. 
Thus, it is not necessary to access the optical fiber for 

35 long periods of time in order to transmit a long video 


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program. 

(Using fiber optic port 18, a movie can be downloaded 
in less than 10% of the time require to view the movie, 
and typically less than 1% of the time required to view 
5 the movie.) Thus, it is not necessary to access the 
optical fiber for long periods of time in order to 
transmit a long video program. Switch 37 is provided to 
select connection to the fiber optic input/output port 
18. Ah OFF or open position is provided.. The selected 
10 signal is delivered to or supplied from high speed data 
bus 34. 

Switch 37 is provided to select connection to the 
fiber optic input/output port 18. An OFF or open position 
is provided. The selected signal is delivered to or 

15 supplied from high speed data bus 34. 

Analog output signals from AVRO 11 are delivered to 
the common terminal 38 of a selector switch 39. When set 
to position A, switch 39 delivers the -output signal of 
AVRU 11 directly to a video output line 41 as a standard 

20 STCS composite signal; when set to position B switch 39 
delivers the output of AVRO 11 to the input of RF 
modulator 19. Modulator 19 converts the video signal to 
an RF-modulated composite signal for delivery to such 
devices as televisions and conventional VCR's. These 

25 types of devices play back the video program on a 

particular frequency channel (such as channel 4) on the 
television. Delivery to the television or VCR is via RF 

output line 42. 

Digital output signals from VCR-ET 10 may be 
30 dispatched from high speed data bus 34 via line 43 to 
input leads of RGB converter 21 and audio/video 
transmitter/receiver 22. 

RGB converter 21 converts the STCS signal into an RGB 
signal as required by computer monitors and similar 
35 display devices. The converted signal is received by a 


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display device connected to RGB converter output 
line 44 • (In another embodiment, digital signals may be 
dispatched from high speed data bus 34 via line 43 to the 
input lead of RGB converter 21.) 
5 VCR-ET 10 includes audio/video transmitter/receiver 

22 which is typically a built-in modem. Advantageously, 
the modem may be used to communicate an audio/video 
program over conventional phone' lines in a manner similar 
to that described above with respect to optical fibers. 

10 The modem allows transfer of the audio/video signal in a 
digital format over the standard telephone line. Modems 
are commonly available for computers and are currently 
available in the form of a single integrated circuit. As 
an example, Sierra Semiconductor offers a 2400 baud single 

15 chip modem as part number SC111006. Representative 

manufacturers of these single modem IC's can be found in 
the April 14, 1988 issue of Engineering Design News (EDN), 
pages 124-125. Some of these single IC modems have the 
added capability of generating the tones for dialing a 

20 phone number. The destination phone number may be entered 
by means of an optional keyboard/keypad 45 incorporated in 
the. video recorder 10 of the invention. Output port 46 of 
transmitter/receiver 22 connects directly to the telephone 
line. 

25 Also associated with Modem 22 is an auxiliary 

keyboard 45* (Pig. LA) of buttons for commanding the modem 
to perform tasks such as starting a transmission over 
phone lines (45a), terminating a transmission (45b), 
automatic telephone answering to receive transmissions 

30 (45c), using an optional speaker (not shown) to monitor 
phone lines (45d), using an optional microphone (not 
shown) to speak over the phone lines (45e) and for 
controlling the baud rate (45f). 

The application and utilization of the VCR-ET may 

35 include a number of forms or operating modes. In its 


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first and simplest operating mode, AVRO 11 may be operated 
in the manner of a conventional VCR with signals from an 
antenna being received by tuner 16 and recorded directly 
on media 23 in analog form. At the same time the received 
5 program may be viewed on the television screen with the 
television connected at video output terminal 42. An 
optional signal source for this type of operation is the 
video line or camera input line- 15 selectable by 
switch 35. 

10 in a second operating mode a program stored in media 

23 of AVRU 11 may be played back and viewed on the 
connected television set. 

When it. is desired to copy a program from one 
recording media to another, the recording media holding 

15 the desired program is installed in the AVRO . The 

recording media is then played back with optional viewing 
on a connected television set or other TV monitor and/or 
listening through speakers (as appropriate). As the 
recording media is played back, the analog signals from 

20 the recording media (video and/or audio) are dispatched to 
VCO 12 via connection 47. The analog signals are converted 
to digital signals by ADC 24, compressed by 
compressor/decompressor 26 and the compressed digital 
signals are stored in memory 13. The foregoing operations 

25 are accomplished under the control of controller 27 and 
CPU 28. RAM 29 is used for interim data storage during 
this process. Once the complete video/audio program has 
been stored in memory 13, the recording media from which 
the stored program has just been read is replaced by blank 

30 recording media upon which the stored program is to be 
copied. CPU 28 in cooperation with controller 27 and RAM 
29 then executes the decompression and digital to analog 
conversion of the program stored in memory 13, 
decompression taking place in compressor/decompressor 26, 

35 and digital to analog conversion being accomplished by DAC 


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25. The resulting analog program is stored on the blank 
recording media which constitutes media 23 of AVRU 11. 

In an alternate mode of operation , the decompression 
circuitry of VCD 12 can be bypassed. Thus, a user has the 

5 option of downloading the stored program from memory 13 
onto recording media 23 in compressed digital format- The 
user can then reload the program from media 23 into memory 
13 at a future time for viewing, editing or recording back 
onto recording media 23 in analog form. This capability 

10 allows the user to quickly clear -memory 13 for other 

interim uses and also provides the user with a hard copy 
of the program in digital format. The hard copy in 
compressed digital format has a number of uses, e.g. it 
could be archived for later viewing, transmitted by an 

15 appropriate independent transmitter, etc. 

During the foregoing procedures, DCU 14 may be 
utilized for editing operations. As the program is being 
read from the first or original recording media, it is 
simultaneously viewed on the TV screen, or listened to by 

20 means of an audio monitor, converted to digital signals, 
compressed and stored in memory 13. Once the digital 
audio/video program is stored in memory 13, editing is 
accomplished by the user through control of DCU 14, by 
means of a control panel (not shown) coupled to DCU 14. 

25 If desired, additional audio/video signals may be 

simultaneously entered into memory 13 and added to those 
received from VCU 12. The additional signals may be 
introduced from auxiliary digital input port 17 or from 
fiber optic input/output port 18 and may comprise video 

30 captions to be superimposed upon the stored video images, 
or they may be audio commentaries to be added to silent 
video presentations. In addition, as mentioned above, the 
order in which various segments appear in the video 
programs may be altered. Certain undesired segments, such 

35 as TV commercials, may be removed. This editing operation 


WO 90/07843 


PCT/US89/05829 


- 17 - 


is accomplished under the control of DCD 14. 

In still another operating mode, a program stored in 
media 23 of AVRO 11 or being received by AVRU 11 from 
input line 15 (as from a video camera) may be digitized 

5 and compressed by VCO 12 and routed via bus 34, to memory 
13. The data from memory 13 is then routed to line 43, 
transmitter/ receiver 22 and to a telephone line (or to 
fiber optic port 18 and to an optical fiber). At the 
other end of the telephone line (or optical fiber) the 
10 signals received are processed by-another VCR-ET. 

Once received in the second VCR-ET's memory 13, the 
digitized program can then either be viewed directly from 
memory or transferred to storage medium 23, either in its 
entirety or in random segments, based on user preference. 

15 In the case of video camera input at input 15 the 

transmitted signals may comprise a live transmission. 
Alternatively the transmitted program may be derived from 
a program stored in media 23 of AVRO 11. In this case the 
stored analog program is again decoded, digitized, 

20 compressed and transmitted via bus 34 to memory 13. The 
data in memory 13 is then communicated via line 43 and 
transmitter/receiver 22 to telephone lines or other output 
means (e.g. fiber optic port 18). 

It follows, of course, that digitized video and audio 

25 signals from the remote VCR-ET at the other end of the 
telephone line may be received at line 46, entered into 
memory 13 via transmitter/receiver 22, -converted to analog 
signals by VCD 12, and recorded on media 23 and then 
viewed, if desired, on a television set connected at 

30 output 42. A hard copy of the program may also be made 
for later viewing. 

As mentioned earlier, when any of the foregoing 
operations entail the processing of unmodulated video 
signals, such signals must first be processed by RF 

35 modulator 19 before they can be accepted by devices such 


WO 90/07843 


PCT/US89/05829 


- 18 - 


as a conventional VCR or television set; when the 
monitoring means is a computer monitor or a similar 
display device the signals are processed by RGB 
converter 21 • 

5 All of the foregoing operations are performed with 

enhanced quality and efficiency by virtue of the digital, 
rather than analog , storage and transmission modes and the 
compressed data storage mechanism, with additional 
advantages of improved cost and reliability afforded in 
10 the case of tape to tape (or other media to media) program 
transfers by virtue of the requirement for only a single 
tape deck or other storage device. 

In an alternative embodiment, either in place of 
fiber optic port 18 or in addition to fiber optic port 18, 
15 a microwave transceiver 18* is provided for transmitting 
and/or receiving a video program via microwave. In 
conventional microwave technology, satellite systems and 
microwave transmitters transmit data using a low 
power /high frequency signal. In an embodiment of the 
20 invention designed to receive microwaves , transceiver 18 ' 
includes an amplifier for amplifying the microwave signal 
and a demodulator for obtaining the video program signal 
from the microwave signal. Receiving, amplifying and 
demodulating the microwave signal can be accomplished witi 
25 conventional microwave transceiver equipment. The video 
program signal is typically in compressed digital form, 
and may be stored, viewed or edited as in the above- 
described embodiments. Video program data from memory 13 
can also be transmitted by the microwave transceiver, 
30 thereby providing the capability for microwave 

transmission of stored video programs in compressed 
digital format. Thus, the invention can be used to 
receive and transmit programs via microwaves at an 
accelerated rate similar to and about as fast as, the 
35 transmission and reception of programs over optical 


WO 90/07843 


PCI7US8i)/05S2tf 


- 19 - 


fibers. This feature allows transmission and reception of 
programs in a few minutes or seconds using currently 
available technology. Both point-to-point microwave 
transceivers and satellite transceivers may be used. 
5 In one embodiment, VCR-ET 10 receives video programs 

which are downloaded from a remotely located video library 
100 (Pig. 5) at an accelerated rate via microwave 
transceiver 18'. After downloading, the program may be 
viewed, stored in memory, edited and/or a hard copy of the 

10 program may be made on magnetic tape, optical disk, etc. 
Thus, a VCR-ET owner who subscribes to video library 100 
may request (via telephone or other means) that a 
particular film be downloaded via microwave to the 
subscriber's VCR-ET, e.g., VCR-ET 10. Other subscribers 

15 may simultaneously request that other movies be downloaded 
into their VCR-ET' s 10a to lOd (Fig. 5) via microwave. 
Library 100 transmits a video signal corresponding to the 
various movies requested by various users in series. 
In one embodiment, each VCR-ET includes a memory 

20 device 90 (shown in phantom in Fig. 2) for storing a 
subscriber's identification code unique to that VCR-ET. 
As the video library broadcasts signals via microwaves, 
prior to commencement of each signal corresponding to a 
movie (or other video program), the library broadcasts a 

25 preamble signal including the subscriber's code 

corresponding to the VCR-ET for whom the movie signal is 
intended. Each VCR-ET includes a monitoring circuit 92 
for monitoring the microwave signal received by microwave 
transceiver 18'. When transceiver 18' receives a preamble 

30 signal corresponding to the subscriber code stored in 
memory device 90, VCR-ET 10 stores the video signals 
received thereafter in memory 13 for subsequent viewing. 
In this way the video library may broadcast, in series, 
compressed video signals at an accelerated rate to be 

35 downloaded into VCR-ET's owned by various subscribers. If 


WO 90/07843 


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- 20 - 


a plurality of subscribers request the same film, the 
library broadcasts a signal preamble containing the 
plurality of subscribers 1 codes corresponding to the 
VCR-ET's of each subscribing VCR-ET owner who requested 
5 that film, so that each requesting subscriber 

simultaneously receives the requested film. In one 
embodiment, the VCR library prioritizes the order in which 
films are broadcast based upon the number of subscribers 
requesting each film. 
10 in another embodiment, a plurality of VCR-ET's are 

coupled via their optical fiber port 18 and a common 
optical fiber to the video library. In yet another 
embodiment, instead of receiving signals from the video 
library using microwaves or optical signals, such video 
15 signals are received via radio waves of a frequency such 
as are used to communicate conventional television 
signals. In one such embodiment, these radio wave signals 
are modulated using a technique described in U.S. patent 
4,613,974, issued to Vokac et al. on September 23, 1986, 
20 and incorporated herein by reference. In the Vokac 
modulation technique, the sine waves that make up the 
radio signals are modified to include what Vokac refers to 
as "audel levels" i.e. a relatively flat signal portion 
110 between the peaks 112 and troughs 114 of the sine 
25 waves (see Figure 6). In one embodiment, TV RF tuner 16 
is coupled to Vokac demodulation circuitry 16 (Fig. 2A) 
which is capable of demodulating signals encoded using 
Vokac* s technique, and downloading these signals via 
lead 94 to memory 13. 
30 The use of Vokac* s technique in this embodiment is 

important because Vokac' s technique allows for a single 
carrier signal to be modulated by two other signals. A 
first of these two other signals is used to modulate the 
carrier to encode data by introducing into the carrier 
35 Vokac 1 s "audel levels" 110. In addition, the carrier may 


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PCT/US89/05829 


- 21 - 


be phase, amplitude or frequency modulated using the 
second other signal. In this way, an electro-magnetic 
carrier signal in the radio or television band may be 
encoded with two information signals. The first of these 
5 signals may be a conventional commercial television 
program, impressed upon the carrier signal via phase 
modulation (or frequency or amplitude modulation) and 
destined for televisions owned by people who do not 
subscribe to the video library. The second signal may be 

10 audei-level encoded with data corresponding to a 

compressed digital video signal destined for subscribers, 
whose VCR-ET decodes the audel levels (using the circuitry 
disclosed in the Vokac patent) and loaded into memory 13 
for subsequent viewing. 

15 as described in the Vokac patent, between each 

peak 112 of Vokac 1 s signal and an audel level is a first 
portion 116 of a first transition region, and between each 
audel level and a signal trough is a second portion 118 of 
the transition region. When demodulating signals 

20 modulated with Vokac 1 s technique, the demodulation 

circuitry may be responsive to the slope of the first and 
second portions 116, 118 of the transition regions, or it 
may be responsive to the magnitude of the audel level 110, 
directly. 

25 in the embodiment in which compressed video signals 

are transmitted by an electro-magnetic carrier signal in 
the radio or television band, monitoring circuit 92 may be 
coupled to TV RP tuner 16 instead of microwave 

transceiver 18 ' . 

30 pig. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment 

invention in which AVRU 11 is not integral with VCU 12, 
memory 13 or editor 14. In this embodiment, AVRU 11 is a 
conventional, commercially available VCR which receives a 
modulated video input signal on an input cable 50. In 

35 this embodiment AVRU 11 includes a RP tuner 51 for 


WO 90/07843 


PCT/US89/05829 


- 22 - 


demodulating the input signal so it can be stored in media 
23. AVRU 11 also includes a RF modulator 52 for 
modulating the signal received from media 23 and providing 
the RF modulated output signal on an output cable 53, 
5 which can be coupled to a television set. (TV RF tuner 51 
and RF modulator 52 are provided in typical commercially 
available VCR's.) A switch 54 is provided to couple input 
cable 50 to output cable 53 when media 23 is not serving 
as a video signal source. The VCR-ET of this embodiment 
10 includes a TV RF tuner 55 which receives and demodulates 
the signal on cable 53, and provides the resultant analog 
audio/video signal on a lead 56, which is digitized and 
compressed as described above. In this alternative 
embodiment, the digitized compressed signal may be 
15 processed as described above, e.g. stored in memory 13 
(via high speed bus 34), edited, transmitted by the fiber 
optic port IB to another VCR-ET, etc. When it is desired 
to view a program stored in memory 13, data from memory 13 
is decompressed and converted to an analog signal by 
20 VCU 12, and the resulting signal is provided on an output 
lead 57 to a RF modulator 58, which modulates the video 
signal so that it can be received and stored by AVRU 11 or 
viewed on a television coupled to cable 53. (As mentioned 
above, in the Fig. 3 embodiment, AVRD 11 is a conventional 
25 VCR.) 

One advantage of the embodiment of Fig. 3 is that 
many people already own VCR's. Rather than buying 
apparatus which duplicates much of the hardware already 
present in their VCR, the embodiment of Fig. 3 would 

30 provide to owners of conventional VCR's capabilities which 
are otherwise currently unavailable. 

In one embodiment, analog auxiliary audio and video 
input terminals 62, 64 are provided so that analog signals 
may be provided by alternate sources to VCD 12. 

35 The embodiments described include means for 


WO 90/07843 


- 23 - 


receiving, storing and transmitting both audio and video 
signals. However, the invention encompasses apparatus 
which can store and transmit video signals only and 
apparatus which can store and transmit audio signals 
5 only. An embodiment designed to store and compress audio 
signals is illustrated in Pig. 4. Referring to Fig. 4, an 
audio signal source 70 (a tape recorder, microphone, 
record player, etc.) is coupled to a digitizer and 
compressor circuit 72, which converts the analog signal to 
10 a digital signal and compresses the digital signal in a 
manner similar to VCU 12 described above. (Audio signal 
source 70 may also be a CD player which provides digital 
audio signals, in which case circuit 72 merely compresses 
but does not digitize the CD player output signal.) The 
15 digital compressed signal can then be stored in a memory 
74. Of importance, data from memory 74 can be transmitted 
by a fiber optic transceiver 76, or by a microwave 
transceiver 78 at an accelerated rate. This is important, 
not only in a home entertainment application, but in other 
20 applications as well. For example, a user can dictate an 
audio presentation and send it to a remote location (e.g. 
an office) at an accelerated rate without having to 
monopolize the transmission medium (e.g. the fiber optic 
cable) for an extended length of time. 
25 The business uses of the embodiment illustrated in 

Fig. 4 makes home offices feasible for many workers now 
confined to more traditional offices and also opens new 
possibilities to business people who are traveling.. 

in the embodiment of Fig. 4, data can also be loaded 
30 from memory 74, via a modem 79 over a conventional phone 
line 80. Data can also be received from phone line 80, 
fiber optic transceiver 76 or microwave transceiver 78, 
loaded into memory 74, and converted to an analog signal 
by circuit 72, to be listened to via an audio monitor 82, 
35 or to be stored on an audio tape cassette 84 or other 


WO 90/07843 


PCT/ T JS89/05829 


- 24 - 


storage media. 

An editor 86 is optionally provided so that the data 
in memory 74 may be edited, e.g., by rearranging the order 
of portions of the audio program, increasing or decreasing 
5 the volume of portions (or different frequency components) 
of the audio program, or enhancing the audio program 
through filtering techniques (e.g. to remove static and 
noise). 

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that 
10 various changes and modifications may be made to the 
above-described embodiments without departing from the 
spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended 
claims. For example, the VCR-ET can be constructed so as 
to be portable. Thus, it could be carried to a location 
15 where it is desired to record a program with a video 
camera, and used to edit the program after it is 
recorded. Also, in one embodiment, video library 100 can 
download video programs via optical fiber or other 
means. Also, in other embodiments, an audio library is - 
20 provided to download digital compressed audio signals. 
Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in 
the art in light of the present specification. 


WO 90/07843 


PCT/US89/05S29 


- 25 - 


CLAIMS 

What is claimed is: 

1. Apparatus comprising: 

first means for receiving an input video signal, 
5 which provides video information at an accelerated 

rate; 

second means for storing, said video signal; and 
means for receiving from- said second means said 
' stored video signal and generating an output video 
10 signal which provides video information at a rate at 

which it can be viewed. 

2. Apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said input video 
signal is a compressed digital video signal and said 
output video signal is an analog video signal. 

15 3. Apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said input video 

signal is received from a microwave transceiver, RF tuner, 
optical fiber, telephone line or coaxial cable. 

'4. Apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said first means is 
also capable of receiving an input video signal at a rate 
20 at which it can be viewed. 

5. Apparatus comprising: 

means for receiving a video input signal that 
provides video information at a first rate; and 
means for providing a video output signal 
25 including said video information at a second rate 

greater than said first rate. 

6. Apparatus of Claim 5 wherein said input video 
signal is an analog video signal and said output video 


WO 90/07843 PCT/US89/05829 


- 26 - 


signal is a digital compressed video signal. 

7. Apparatus of Claim 5 wherein said output video 
signal is transmitted by a microwave transceiver, an, 
optical fiber r radio transmitter, telephone line or 

5 coaxial cable. 

8. Apparatus comprising: 

means for receiving an input video signal; 

memory means for storing data; 

means for generating a compressed digital video 
10 signal in response to said input video signal and 

storing said compressed digital video signal in said 
memory means; and 

reconstruction means for receiving said 
compressed digital video signal from said memory 
15 means and reconstructing therefrom an output video 

signal suitable for viewing. 

9. Apparatus of Claim 8 further comprising means 
for editing said digital compressed video signal stored ii 
said memory means. 

20 • 10. Apparatus of Claim 9 wherein said means for 

editing permits a user to alter the sequences of segments 
of said compressed digital video signal. 

11. Apparatus of Claim 9 further comprising means 
for displaying images of said digital compressed video 

25 signal being edited. 

12. A video recording device comprising: 

first memory means for storing analog video 
signals; 

second memory means for storing digital video 


WO 90/07843 


PCT/US89/05829 


10 


- 27 - 


signals; and 

conversion means for receiving said analog video 
signals from said first memory means, converting said, 
analog video signals to digital video signals, and 
storing said digital video signals in said second 
memory means, said conversion means also being 
capable of converting said digital video signals 
stored in said second memory means back into analog 
video signals for storage in said first memory means. 

13. Video recording device of Claim 12 wherein said 
first memory means is a magnetic, optical or semiconductor 
memory, and said digital video signals are compressed 
digital video signals. 

14. Video recording device of Claim 12 further 

15 comprising means coupled to said first memory means and 
conversion means for receiving an analog input video 
signal, whereby said analog input video signal may be 
stored in said first memory means or converted to a 
digital video signal by said conversion means. 

20 15. Apparatus comprising: . 

means for receiving an analog audio signal? 
means for digitizing said analog audio signal, 
thereby generating digital data corresponding to said 
audio signal and for compressing said digital data? 
25 memory means for storing said compressed digital 

data; and 

transceiver means for transmitting said 
compressed digital data. 

16. Apparatus of Claim 15 wherein said transceiver 
30 means also receives compressed digital data and. stores 
said received compressed digital data in said memory 


WO 90/07843 PCT/US89/05829 


- 28 - 


means , said apparatus also including means for 
decompressing and converting the data stored in said 
memory means into an analog audio signal. 

17. Apparatus of Claim 15 further comprising means 
5 for editing said compressed digital data. 

18. Apparatus comprising: 

means for receiving a first signal from a 
communication channel corresponding to audio 
information during a first time period; 

10 means for receiving said first signal and 

reconstructing sound waves therefrom so that said 
sound waves may be listened to during a second time 
period substantially longer than said first time 
period so that it is unnecessary to access said 

15 communication channel for a time equal in duration to 

said second time period. 

19. Apparatus comprising: 

first means for receiving and converting an 
analog audio signal to a digital audio signal; 
20 second means for storing said digital audio 

signal r wherein said first means is also capable of 
receiving said digital audio signal from said second 
means and reconverting said digital audio signal back 
to an analog audio signal for listening; 
25 third means for storing data; and 

fourth means for transferring said digital audio 
signal from said second means to said third means, 
thereby making said second means available for 
receiving and storing additional digital audio 
30 signals. 


20. Apparatus of Claim 19 wherein said first means 


WO 90/07843 


~ 29 - 


also compresses data, so that said digital audio signal is 
a compressed digital audio signal, and wherein said third 
means is a memory device capable of receiving said digital 
audio signal from said second means, said third means also 
5 being capable of receiving and storing said reconverted 
analog audio signal from said first means. 

21. Apparatus of Claim 20 wherein said third means 
is remote from said first and second means and said fourth 
means comprises a microwave transceiver. 

10 22. Apparatus of Claim 20 wherein said third means 

is remote from said first and second means and said fourth 
means comprises an optical fiber. 

23. Apparatus of Claim 20 wherein said third means 
is remote from said first and second means and said fourth 

15 means comprises a telephone line. 

24. Apparatus of Claim 19 wherein said third means 
is also capable of storing an analog audio signal for 
subsequent listening. 

25. Apparatus comprising: 

20 receiving means for receiving and storing an 

audio signal in a first memory means during a first 
time period; 

communication means for communicating said 
stored audio signal during a second time period 

25 substantially less than said first time period. 

26. Apparatus of Claim 25 wherein said receiving 
means converts said received audio signal from an analog 
to digital format prior to storage, and said communication 
means transmits said stored audio signal to a location 


WO 90/07843 


PCI7US89/05S29 


- 30 - 


remote from said apparatus. 

27. Apparatus comprising: 

receiving means for receiving and storing an 
audio signal in a first memory means during a first 

5 time period; and 

means for providing said stored audio signal to 
a speaker so that said signal can be listened to 
during a second time period substantially greater 
than said first time period.- 

10 28. Apparatus of Claim 27 wherein said receiving 

means receives said audio signal in digital format and 
converts said received audio signal from said digital 
format to an analog format, said receiving means receiving 
said audio signal from a location remote from said 

15 apparatus. 

29. Apparatus comprising: 

first means for receiving an electromagnetic 
wave signal from a video library, wherein at least 
part of said signal corresponds to a video program 
20 received at an accelerated rate; and 

second means for storing said part of said 
signal corresponding to said video program so that 
said video program may later be viewed. 

30. Apparatus of Claim 29 wherein said part of said 
25 signal corresponding to said video program comprises 

compressed digital data corresponding to said video 
program, and said signal is a radio band signal or a 
television band signal. 

31. Apparatus of Claim 30 further comprising a video 
30 monitor and means for receiving and decompressing said 


WO 90/07843 


PCT/L'S89/058^V 


- 31 - 


compressed digital data and reconstructing therefrom a 
video signal, and providing to said video monitor said 
reconstructed video signal. 

32. Apparatus of Claim 31 wherein said first means 

5 receives said video program in less than 10% of the length 
of time required to view the video program. 

33. Apparatus of Claim 30 wherein said second means 
stores said part of said signal corresponding to said 
video program in compressed digital form, said apparatus 

10 further comprising: 

an RF tuner for receiving a television signal; 
a video recorder for storing said television 
signal for subsequent viewing; 

third means for decompressing said compressed 
15 digital data from said second means to reconstruct 

therefrom a video signal, said third means being 
coupled to said video recorder so that said 
reconstructed video signal may also be stored on a 
video storage medium, said second means also being 
20 coupled to said video recorder so that said 

compressed digital data can be downloaded onto said 
storage medium. 

34. Apparatus of Claim 33 wherein said video 
recorder is in a common housing with said first, second 

25 and third means. 

35. Apparatus of Claim 33 wherein said video 
recorder is not in a common housing with said first, 
second, and third means. 


30 


36. Apparatus comprising: 

first means for receiving an electromagnetic 


WO 90/07843 


PCT/US89/05829 


- 32 - 


wave signal from an audio library, wherein at least 
part of said signal corresponds to an audio program 
received at an accelerated rate; and 

second means for storing said part of said 
5 signal corresponding to said audio program so that 

said audio program may later be listened to. 

37. Apparatus of Claim 36 wherein said part of said 
signal corresponding to said audio, program comprises 
compressed digital data corresponding to said audio 

10 program, and said signal is a radio band frequency signal 
or a television band frequency signal. 

38. Apparatus of Claim 37 further comprising a 
speaker and means for receiving and decompressing said 
compressed digital data and reconstructing therefrom an 

15 audio signal, and providing to said speaker said 
reconstructed audio signal. 

39. Apparatus of Claim 38 wherein said first means 
receives said audio program in less than 10% of the length 
of time required to listen to the audio program. 

20 40. Apparatus of Claim 37 further comprising means 

for editing said compressed digital data stored in said 
second means. 


WO 90/07843 


1/6 


PCT/US89/05829 



SUBSTITUTE SHEET 


WO 90/07843 


PCr/';589/05829 


2/6 


45e 



FIG..1A 


70 


1 


84 


AUDIO 
SIGNAL 
SOURCE 


72 


74 


86 


I 


1 


TAPE 
CASSETTE 
RECORDER 


I 


DIGITIZER AND 
COMPRESSOR 
CIRCUIT 


MEMORY 


±21 


EDITOR 


52 


1 


AUDIO 
MONITOR 


FIBER OPTIC 
TRANSCEIVER 


MICROWAVE 
TRANSCEIVER 


FIG..4 


-76 


78 



SUBSTITUTE SHEET 


WO 90/07843 


PCT/l S89/05829 



SUBSTITUTE SHEET 


WO 90/07843 


PCT/US89/0582y 



SUBSTITUTE SHEET 


WO 90/07843 


PCT/US89/05S29 


5/6 


TO 

TELEVISION 


TV ANTENNA, 
CABLE, ETC. 



RF 

MODULATOR 


62- 


^57 


AUDIO 
INPUT 

VIDEO 
INPUT 


64 


J 


■17 


AUX. DIGITAL 
INPUT 


FIBER OPTIC 
INPUT/OUTPUT 
PORT 


OFF 


OFF 

e 

-J- -» 


TV RF 

TUN 

ER 

56' 



D/A 


12 

-h 


COMP/ 
DECOM 


CONTR- 
OLLER 


CPU 


|- |RAM| 


MICROWAVE 
TRANSCEIVER 


18 


MONITORING 
CIRCUIT 


MEMORY 


'92 


'90 


MEMORY 


r 


13 


-34- 


ill 


RGB 
CONVERTER 
WITH SYNC. 


22 


1 


CPU 


ROM 


2 


controller"! 


AUDIO/VIDEO 
TRANS/REC. 


KEYPAD 


"50 


SUBSTITUTE SHEET 


F/G.-3 


WO 90/07843 


6/6 



SUBSTITUTE SHEET 


INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT 


international Aoolicanon No. 


PCT/US89/05829 


I. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER [il ««»tr«l Omnficaiion »ymooH «ooly. meieai* am « 


Aeeoioino. to Inttrnational Pattnt Cla«*iliealion (IPC) or <s ooin National Cuaiifieation ana IPC 

IPC (4) H04N 5/76 

n c! nr.. ^58/335 : 


il FIELDS SEARCHED 


Minimum Documentation Sesrened 1 


Classification SfSiem 


U.S. 


Classification Symooit 


358/133,134,135,136,137,138,335 
360/9.1,32,14.1,14.2,14.3 


Documentation Starcnto othor man Minimum Oocumtnuuon 
lo tho Eittnt mat aueh Oocumtntt art Included in mt Fieldt Starcntd * 


in. 


OOCUMENTS COHSIOtWEO TO BE BEIEVAKT ■ 


Category 1 


Citation ol Ooeumont. " w.in indication, wnert appropriate, ol mo rele.am oataaoea '« gele.am 10 Cla.m no ' 


X 

P,X 


US, A, 4,698,664 (NICHOLS ET AL) 06 October 1987 
See col. '3, lines 5-60. 

ttc a ' a 851 931 (PABKER EI AL) 25 July 1989 
Se c^l 2 iSs 5^and col. 15 lines 33-68. 


1-14 


15-40 


* Special categories ol cited documents: * 

-A" document defining tht general state of the «rt which not 

considered to bo ol particular relevance 

earlier document but oubtiened on or after the international 

filing date 

•r documont which miy throw doubts on pnonty cUtm(i) or 
wfttcft is cited to tsiaoMn the publication daw ol another 
citation or other toocial reason (as specified) 

"0" document referring to an oral disclosure, uso; eihibition 0/ 
other moana 

"P* documont oubliehed onor to tho international filing data but 

-T" latar document published altar tha international ru.no dat* 
or ortonty data and not in conflict with tha aooiicat.on out 
cited to undaratano tha principle « r ,nf0f » « rta#M ' ,n0 ,r * 
invention 

-X- documam of particular relevance: ma 

cannot bo conatdared novo* or cannot sa convoked io 
mvoUa an inventive stao 

-r- document of particular relevance; tha claimed 

cannot ba considered to involve an .n«ent.*e * 
documant ta combtnad w.th ono or more i Jther 
ments, such combination being obvioua to a parson s«..ito 
in tho art 

-4" documant mambar of tha $amt oatant famtiy 

IV. ClWTt'lCATlOH _ 

Oata ot tha Actual Comolation of tha Inttf national Starch 

- 07 MAY 1990 

Oata ol Mailing of this International Search Report 

2 4 MAY 1990 

International Searching Authority 

ISA/US 

(^RpBERI L«gCHABDS£N 


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